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Background A Non-pharmaceutical public health measures are being promoted for mitigating the risk and impact of epidemic and pandemic covid-19 influenza and the introduction of its vaccine necessitate the assessment of individual perception regarding the vaccine. This study assessed compliance with covid-19 non-medicinal preventive protocol and intent to accept covid-19 vaccine among adults in Owerri West, Imo state Nigeria. Method Descriptive cross sectional research design was employed in recruiting four hundred and thirty six (436) participants used for the study. Using SPSS version 23, data were subjected to descriptive and Chi-square analysis. Results Results showed that almost all of them 433(99%) have heard about covid-19 especially from radio 151(35%). A vast number of them know the cause of the disease 397(92%) and when and where it was first reported 423(98%). They were aware that the disease is transmitted through respiratory droplet 351(81%) and it can enter the body through the nose 400(92%), mouth 359(83%) and eyes 362(84%). Moreover, almost all of them know that the disease has no cure 398(92%). On their perception, majority of them strongly agreed that the disease is real and is a serious disease but not in Nigeria where most of the participants disagreed that people did not die from the disease 303(69%). Most of them strongly perceived that the disease can be prevented through regular washing of hands with soap 291(67%), maintaining social distance 223(51%), wearing of nose mask 204(47%), cleaning and disinfecting the environment 231(53%). However, most of them sometimes wear nose mask wash their hands with soap 298(68%) and maintain at least one meter distance when with others 283(65%). Equally, the participants sometimes wash cloth nose mask before reuse 288(66%) but never share nose mask with any other person 200(46%). Moreover, most of them sometimes touch face with fingers 231(53%), clean and disinfect door handles 258(59%), tables and chairs 252(58%). Most of them sometimes sneeze/cough into their elbow 244(56%) and dispose tissue paper used for sneezing/coughing into a closed bin 325(75%), travel in a crowded vehicle 244(56%), attend events with more than 50 persons in attendance 189(43%) and in general sometimes follow all the recommended preventive measures 259(59%) resulting in greater proportions of them 197(45%) observing low level of compliance. Major barrier for not observing the preventive measures as reported by majority of the respondents is that hand washing with soap for up to 20 minutes is lack of time 203(47%), feel uncomfortable with wearing of nose mask 180(41%), attend crowded events because it is very crucial 167(38%) and usually touch their face when cleaning sweat 178(41%). Only few of the participants 114(26%) were willing to accept vaccine especially if it given free of charge 151(35%) in liquid form 55(48%) and its safety trusted 352(81%). Prominent reason for not taking vaccine was because of hidden agenda behind it which is not to the advantage of humanity 87(27%) whereas prominent reason for accepting it was to prevent the recipient from getting the disease 88(77%). Conclusion With the exception of religion, all the demographic characteristics had significant influence (p<0.05) on the level of compliance to covid-19 preventive measures and respondents’ intent to accept covid-19 vaccine when provided. Therefore, to increase vaccine acceptability, baseless rumors and myths against the COVID-19 vaccines must be checked and they should be reached out with scientific facts describing the safety and efficacy of the vaccines.

Objectives: To investigate the biochemical effects of oral doses of Piper guineense (P. guineense) leaf extract on female diabetics using experimental animals. Methods: The animals, albino wistar rats, were divided into six groups (n=7). Animals in group 1 received water and feed only. Animals in groups 2 to 6 were induced with diabetes using alloxan. Methanolic leave extracts of P. Guineense were administered to groups 2 to 4 in 40 mg/kg, 80 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg body weights representing low, medium and high doses respectively. Group 5 animals were treated with 10 mg/kg body weight of Glibenclamide (Antidiabetic drug) and group 6 animals were left untreated. All treatments were carried out orally and lasted for a period of 14 days. At the end of the 14 days, the animals were humanely sacrificed through cardiac puncture and the blood samples collected for the analyses of some liver and kidney function parameters using assay kits. Results: The results showed that the oral doses of methanolic leave extract of P. guineense had no negative alterations on the biochemical parameters analyzed namely, 1) Lipid profile (Triglyceride, Low Density Lipoprotein, Total Cholesterol and High Density Lipoprotein levels), 2) electrolytes profile (Sodium, Potassium, Chloride, Bicarbonate, 3) Urea) and 4) Creatinine levels. Furthermore, there was a significant reduction in the urea levels of treated animals and marked but insignificant reduction in the total cholesterol level and increase in High Density Lipoprotein at P<0.05. Conclusion and Implication for Translation: The reported antidiabetic P. guineense leaf extract caused no adverse biochemical changes in female diabetic rats. This implied that the extract may not distort the lipid and electrolyte profiles of female diabetics and could be pharmacologically safe in the management of female diabetics. It further implied that the Piper, Uziza, commonly taken after childbirth by nursing mothers in some tropical countries may maintain the lipid and electrolyte balance and consequently, prevent hypercholesterolemia and hypertension. Keywords: • Diabetes • Piper guineense • Lipids • Electrolytes • Methanolic extracts • Black pepper   Copyright © 2019 Gordon et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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Background: Hypertension is among the important causes of non-communicable disease burden worldwide. It has raised public health concerns in both developed and developing nations. It mostly occurs in patients with diabetes and the prevalence depends on duration, type and age of the patient. The study aimed at determining the risk factors of hypertension among type 2 diabetic patients in Imo State, Nigeria. Methods: A hospital-based descriptive survey design involving 50 patients attending hospital was used. Structured questionnaire complemented with interview schedule was used to collect data from the respondents. Data were analyzed using frequency and mean score. Hypotheses were tested using Chi-square at 5% significance level. Results: The result showed that the majority (70.0%) of the patients was hypertensive, 54.0% of the patients used dietary control and drugs in the treatment of the diseases. Furthermore, it was found that 54.0% ate salty foods always, 58.0% of the patients added extra table salt in their meals, 54.0% ate canned foods and 82.0% took sugary drinks always. It was also found that 66.0% ate always from restaurants and 58.0% ate more of starchy foods. The result further showed that 74.0% of the patients avoided physical exercise and 70.0% indicated that doing stress works made them get anxious. Eighty percent of the patients had hypertension in their family history and the 74.0% indicated it was their brother/sister. The X2 result showed a significantly association between family history of hypertension and type 2 diabetes X2(121, N = 50) = 187, p = 0.000. It was also found that dietary pattern was significantly associated with risk of type 2 diabetes X2(121, N = 50) = 187, p = 0.000. Conclusion: Dietary pattern and family history of hypertension were significantly associated with type 2 diabetes. It was recommended that sensitization campaigns be organized to educate women on the effect of diets on diabetes. Also, family history of hypertension should be ascertained from patients to ensure early detection and treatment of diabetes.